Yeah I agree with this, thanks for the nuanced post.
I do use private for the operation also, wouldn’t do it to queue jump as you say, and also know people who do this. Doesn’t sit right with me at all. And yep, private should do more catering for critical care, however feel if this started it would end up with the privatisation for the NHS, which I’m sure many folk don’t want to see.
I still think there is huge inefficiency in the NHS, and recall having a blood test at the hospital (weirdly my private paid for me to attend the hospital, no idea why), during CoVid. The system worked perfectly, no waiting time when checked in, in and out in 3 minutes. I can’t understand why things aren’t run in a more systematic way like this was. I get I am simplifying matters, but there is credence in it.